We've opened 2 new outdoor spaces in Dunstable
Thursday, 17 November 2022
On Thursday 17 November 2022, we opened two new outdoor spaces on the Downside Estate in Dunstable.
On Morcom Road, we've installed a brand-new playground for children featuring different types of play equipment to make the most of, including swings, a seesaw and a climbing frame. A new bench has been installed and the ground was re-levelled.
A local nine-year-old boy said:
It’s amazing, I like the new features. I think I’ll use it a lot when it’s sunny. The climbing frame is my favourite part.
The second new area is on Jardine Way, where an outdoor gym has been installed so residents can work out in the fresh air. It has an accompanying app so residents can see how to use each piece of equipment.
Both areas were opened by Councillor Eugene Ghent, our Executive Member for Housing and Assets, who was joined by the Mayor of Dunstable, Councillor Liz Jones.
The work is part of a series of improvements that we've made to the Downside estate this year, after asking residents for their feedback on the area through a survey at the beginning of 2022.
The results showed that residents valued grounds and green space maintenance most. As well as installing the two brand new outside spaces, we've planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs around the estate with the help of residents and in partnership with Dunstable in Bloom, and carried out work in Mayfield Road to improve the health of the trees and cut back foliage.
Around the Mayfield Road shopping area, we've replaced some of the shop shutters to improve the look of the parade, replaced a number of bins, repaired fences and added new signage to the area with the help of residents.
We've also carried out maintenance to car parks to bring more spaces back into use and ease some of the parking challenges in the area.
Councillor Ghent said:
I was extremely pleased to be able to open both new outdoor spaces on the Downside estate today. Both new spaces are part of our ongoing work in Downside this year, to make the area the best it can be. Our survey of residents earlier this year has helped shape this work, and I’d like to thank those who gave their feedback. The work we have done this year is as a direct result of the survey, which I hope shows that we do listen and take into account the views of our residents.
I’ve lived in Dunstable all my life, and I’m fond of the area and proud to live here. I want other residents to feel the same way. I hope both new outdoor areas will bring a lot of joy to the community and can be enjoyed by future generations can enjoy for years to come.